2017 BMW 530i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#7 most-complained of 11 530i years
The 2017 BMW 530i has 18 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 7th worst out of 11 model years. Compared with other 530i years, 2017 rates "Good" rather than a year to avoid.
- Complaints
- 18
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 23.5 city / 33.5 hwy
Top 2017 BMW 530i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Seat Belts5 (28%)
- Airbags4 (22%)
- Structure & Body4 (22%)
- Electrical System3 (17%)
- Engine3 (17%)
- Other2 (11%)
- Steering2 (11%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
What owners report
- Seat belt sensors falsely alert that the passenger belt is unbuckled even when the seat is empty.
- The driver's side door has frozen shut or refused to latch in cold weather, even after actuator replacement.
- The steering wheel has stuck in its highest position and would not lower, requiring a dealer to replace the entire steering column.
- The rear lower control arm has split apart while driving, causing a sudden loss of steering control.
- Owners report coolant and oil leaking near the engine cooling interface, sometimes with smoke and emission fault codes.
2017 BMW 530i recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V243000Apr 29, 2020Airbags33 vehicles
Air bags
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head air bag inflators may affect the proper deployment of the head air bags.
Risk: In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, deployment of the head air bag may be impaired and/or the igniter could separate from the inflator, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right head air bag, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2017 BMW 530i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other 530i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 BMW 530i reliable?
- NHTSA lists 18 complaints and 1 recall for the 2017 530i, giving it a Complaint Index of 40. That ranks 7th worst among the 11 530i model years with data, and the year is rated "Good" relative to other years.
- What are the main problem areas for the 2017 BMW 530i?
- Seat Belts account for 28% of complaints, followed by Airbags and Structure & Body at 22% each, then Electrical System and Engine at 17% each.
- Does the 2017 BMW 530i have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2017 530i, covering airbags affected by prior exposure to excessive humidity; BMW replaces the affected head air bag free of charge.
- How does the 2017 530i compare to other model years?
- The 2017 530i's Complaint Index of 40 is lower than 2018 (60), 2019 (70), 2020 (80), 2022 (90), and 2024 (100), all of which carry Caution or Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 BMW 530i?
- EPA rates the 2017 530i at 27 mpg combined (23.5 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.